New half mammal and half reptile species discovered in Utah

In eastern Utah, researchers have found half mammal, and half reptile’s skull whose weight is about two n half pounds and the height is about 6 inches tall. The skull of the new species known as Cifelliodonwahkarmoosuch usually comes from the snout-bearing, catlike animal which has buck teeth and molars for crushing plants.

The discovery of this is evidence, and the super-continental split of Pangea is likely to occur more recently than the scientists who were previously thought. After 15 years, this group of reptile which looks like the mammals has experienced an unsuspected burst of the evolution which was spread across the several continents.

According to the Adam Huttenlocker, who is the lead author of the study and also the assistant professor of the clinical integrative anatomical science at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California said, “Based on the unlikely discovery of this near-complete fossil cranium, we now recognize a new, cosmopolitan group of early mammal relatives.” The study which was done by Adam was published in the journal Nature on May 16th and the updates about the understanding about the mammals who are evolved and dispersed across the major continents during the age of dinosaurs.

This newly discovered half mammal and half reptile species was covered in hair and can lay eggs like the modern day platypus. As per huttlenlocker,” For a long time, we thought early mammals from the Cretaceous (145 million to 66 million years ago) were anatomically similar and not ecologically diverse. This finding by our team and others reinforce that, even before the rise of modern mammals, ancient relatives of mammals were exploring speciality niches: insectivores, herbivores, carnivores, swimmers, gliders. Basically, they were occupying a variety of niches that we see them occupy today.”

The fossil was discovered accidentally by Andrew R.C. Milner, who is the paleontologist at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm. He discovered the skull at the site on Bureau of Land Management Lands northeast of Arches National Park. He found the skull in the lab under the foot of the new iguanodont dinosaur which is known as hippodraco. This discovery emphasises that these type of animals have existed globally during the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition. The federal government has provided $300 for the research, and the rest was supported by the state of Utah.

Bernadette Peterson was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale. As a journalist, Bernadette has contributed to NPR News Blog, Outdoor Magazine, and many other publications. In regards to academics, Bernadette earned a degree in business degree from A&N and earned her master's degree at the University of Florida. Bernadette covers local news and culture stories here at United News Desk.

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